The key changes, to be brought in from July 1, 2008 are:

• All new cars and light vehicles purchased in NSW will be exempt from a pink slip for five years, up from the current three-year exemption.
• All cars and light vehicles under five years old as of July 1, 2008 will also be exempt from a pink slip until they turn five years old.
• Motorists will no longer need to wait in a queue to renew their registration.
• All pink slips issued in NSW will be transmitted directly to the RTA electronically, allowing registration renewals to be done over the internet or the phone.
• Motorists will also be able to register their vehicles for shorter periods of three months or six months as well as the current one-year standard.
• Vans and utes will not need a pink slip for five years – up from the current one year exemption.

“The Iemma Government is meeting its State Plan commitment to improve Government services – these registration changes will save families money and time,” Mr Roozendaal said.

“Under these changes, an extra 600,000 NSW families and businesses will save the cost of a pink slip.

“This means a saving of $31.10 a year in pink slip costs on new vehicles until the vehicle is five years old.

“And when it comes time to renew their registration, motorists won’t need to go into an RTA registry – it can all be done over the internet or over the phone.

“Around 1.4 million vehicles will be exempt from pink slips in total.

“The mechanical standard of new cars has improved significantly since 1989, when the pink slip exemption period was extended from one to three years.

“New cars are much more reliable, they have much longer warranties – some up to five years – so annual inspection requirements can be extended until a vehicle is five years old without compromising safety.

“In a change which will benefit small businesses and tradespeople, utes and vans will also not need an inspection for five years – currently annual inspections are required after only a year.”

The new inspection requirements apply to:

• Light passenger-carrying vehicles including sedans, station wagons and four wheel drives
• Motorcycles
• Light goods-carrying vehicles such as panel vans, utilities, vans and table tops
• Caravans
• Other trailers with a gross trailer mass of less than 750kg

Mr Roozendaal said pink slips will become electronic for all annual inspections – effectively ceasing to exist as a hard copy.

“This option is already available at more than 2,800 inspection stations across NSW

“But from July 2008, all 5,800 inspection stations across NSW will become e-Safety stations, requiring them to transmit pink slips electronically to the RTA,” he said.

“With green slips already transmitted electronically to the RTA, this means all standard light vehicle registrations can be completed online at myRTA.com.

“Anyone without computer access will still be able to renew their registration by phone on 13 22 13, or by taking their registration documents into their nearest registry.”

Motorists will also be able to register their vehicles for shorter periods – if they carry out the transaction online.

“The three or six month registration periods will help people who might not be able to afford a whole year’s registration in one go, or those who might want to move the time of their annual registration renewal.

“For example, someone who currently pays their rego around Christmas while they are also saving for the family holidays will be able to pay for six months and move their annual renewals to mid year, when the bills are less frantic.”

“There will be no extra costs for renewing registrations online for the shorter period.”

Renewing car registration online can currently be done by following these quick and easy steps:

1. Go to an e-Safety station. The station will electronically send the pink slip to the RTA. E-Safety Check stations can be identified by a yellow e-Safety Check sign; there is also a list of participating stations on the RTA website.
2. Buy your CTP greenslip – all insurers send this to the RTA electronically. Most major insurers offer alternative payment options by phone or internet.
3. Log onto myRTA.com and go to myRego to pay the registration fee and complete the online registration process.